Some residents choose to mark the second anniversary of the East Palestine derailment by organizing a food drive in neighboring Darlington, Pa. on Monday. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

DARLINGTON — While all eyes were on East Palestine and the spectacle of Vice President’s JD Vance visit to the village on the second anniversary of the Norfolk southern train derailment, across the stateline in Darlington, a group of those impacted by the disaster marked the somber occasion by quietly giving back.

A food drive, organized by Mike Stout, Steve Mellon and Nadine Luci, took place Monday afternoon. The food was distributed at Rick Tsai’s Blackhawk Chiropractic. Volunteers included residents from East Palestine and Beaver County, Pa. remained committed to not only advocating for those impacted — including themselves — but to being a support system for each other.

In the village, the Unity Council for the East Palestine Train Derailment — a grassroots organization of residents in East Palestine and surrounding communities formed to bring aware and demand action for those who are they say are still suffering — held a lowkey event at McKim’s Winery on East Taggart Street, stone’s throw away from where the train derailed. That all-day event featured an environmental film festival, an update from National Institute of Health researchers and a “Ceremony of Healing.” The private ceremony allowed residents to share their stories and words from encouragement from others.

Other residents took advantage of Vance’s visit by holding a press conference on Monday morning at the Veternan’s Memorial across the street from the municipal building in which they called for meaningful change, extensive health monitoring, a declaration of disaster from President Donald Trump and the enactment of Social Security Act 1881a — a little known clause in the Affordable Care Act grants free Medicare to citizens exposed to environmental disasters.

Ahead of the derailment, the Justice For East Palestine Residents And Workers — a group made up if union workers, labor leaders, environmental justice groups, community organizers and community support East Palestine residents and “demand that the federal government and State of Ohio provide full healthcare coverage for the victims of the toxic train derailment” held a press conference on Sunday in Austintown to reiterate the need to enact the Stafford Act — the law that mobilizes federal resources to aid state and local governments in disaster relief. East Palestine resident Chris Albright, a gas pipeline worker and a member of LIUNA 1058, and an East Palestine resident that developed congestive heart failure following the derailment, organized the event.

Other private events were held in the village and surrounding communities.